NHL Last Night: Bruins Bruise Panthers

The Boston Bruins put their patchy recent form aside to thrash the Florida Panthers 6-1 in Tuesday's NHL action.

Despite leading the Eastern Conference, the Bruins had won just one of their previous seven games entering this contest, including a defeat by the Panthers.

On that occasion, Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun shut out Boston, but he was absent ill on Tuesday and his replacement Craig Anderson let in a the first shot he saw after less than a minute.

That put Boston on track for an easy win which included two goals from rookie fourth-line winger Byron Bitz, only the second and third of his NHL career.

Flyers 4, Capitals 2
In Washington, Philadelphia scored three goals in 3-1/2 minutes of the third period to come from behind and beat Washington.

Philadelphia was the only Eastern Conference side that Capitals star Alex Ovechkin had not got a point against this season, but he set up the first goal and scored the second to end that record and put Washington up 2-0.

But the Flyers cut their deficit to 2-1 during a 5-on-3 midway through the second period, and then exploded in the third, with Scott Hartnell getting the equalizer and Jeff Carter the go-ahead goal.

It was a season-best fourth straight road win for the Flyers.

Flames 4, Blue Jackets 1
In Calgary, Alberta, Calgary won its third straight and moved ten points clear atop the Northwest Division with a win over Columbus.

Jarome Iginla scored twice and added two assists, and Mike Cammelleri had a goal and two assists as the Flames' top two scorers combined for their biggest night together since a 10-point outburst on New Year's Eve.

Iginla has overcome a mediocre stretch to score four goals in his past four games.

Calgary has earned points in each of its past eight games.

Canadiens 3, Canucks 0
In Montreal, Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves for his first shutout of the season as Montreal ended Vancouver's four-game winning streak.

Halak posted his fourth career shutout, his first in over 11 months.

Tomas Plekanec scored his 16th goal late in the first period and set up a power-play goal in the second.Predators 5, Blackhawks 3

In Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville came from 3-1 down at the start of the final period to beat Chicago.

Ducks 3, Sabres 2
In Buffalo, New York, Anaheim won at Buffalo for the first time in six attempts.

Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 34 shots to hold off the injury-depleted Sabres.

Buffalo was playing its first game without starting goaltender Ryan Miller, out indefinitely with an ankle sprain, and leading scorer Thomas Vanek, out with a broken jaw.

Kings 2, Wild 1, OT
In St. Paul, Minnesota, Drew Doughty scored the deciding shootout goal to give Los Angeles victory over Minnesota.

The shootout was tied 1-1 after three rounds and Doughty scored the winner on the Kings' fourth shot. It was only the fourth shootout win for the Kings this season in 11 attempts.Senators 4, Hurricanes 2

In Ottawa, Dany Heatley scored his 30th goal of the season as Ottawa defeated Carolina,

It's the fifth time in his seven NHL seasons that Heatley's reached the 30-goal mark and fourth in a row.

Heatley scored the opener as the Senators scored three times in the opening 20 minutes, and ended Carolina's run of three straight wins.

Blues 2, Coyotes 1
In St. Louis, the hosts continued to edge into the playoff frame, defeating Phoenix.

Despite being last in the Central Division, the Blues have got points from 10 of 12 games this month, including two wins and an overtime loss from the past three even as its totalled only four goals. That put St Louis only five points off the last provisional playoff berth.

Jay McClement scored short-handed for the go-ahead goal, spoiling a four-minute Coyotes power play in the second period.

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Oilers 5, Lightning 3
In Edmonton, Alberta, Edmonton ended a three-game skid by downing Tampa Bay.

Sheldon Souray led the way for the Oilers with two goals, as Edmonton outshot the Lightning 45-29.

Tampa Bay has lost six in a row on the road, and five of six overall.

Thrashers 4, Avalanche 3
In Atlanta, the home team ended a run of four defeats in a row at home, overcoming Colorado.

Ilya Kovalchuk got his 10th goal in eight games, and the Thrashers had two short-handed scores.

Kovalchuk's 31st goal was a redirection after four minutes. The Thrashers captain has 28 points, including 20 goals, in the past 24 games.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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